On the heels of a stunning Brandon Nimmo trade that netted Marcus Semien and sure looked like the first domino of many, David Stearns said he does not know what the Mets will do next, said “anything would be realistic right now” regarding the club’s offseason spending plan and reiterated that he is interested in retaining Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz.
More concretely, the Mets president of baseball operations offered ways in which Jeff McNeil — the most affected by the swap — along with Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio and plenty of the prospects trying to break into the majors still can find their way back to Queens next season with roles on the team.
McNeil has played 584 games at second base since debuting in 2018, and while he has played all over the field, he has been most often seen at the keystone for eight seasons.
If retained, that will change next season because the Mets acquired a Gold Glove second baseman.
On Sunday, Stearns talked to McNeil, who still “wants to be a part of this,” Stearns said.
It is of course possible McNeil becomes expendable — the 33-year-old is owed $15.75 million next season in the final guaranteed year of his contract before a club option for 2027 — and it is possible McNeil returns and plays wherever there is an opening.
Stearns mentioned second base, first base (with Alonso a free agent) and the corner outfield, with left field now vacant, as possibilities.
“I think Jeff, by virtue of his positional versatility, still has the ability to impact our team in a variety of ways,” Stearns said over Zoom on Monday. “What exactly that’s going to look like is probably going to have to wait until we watch the rest of the offseason unfold.”
The same applies for the rest of a suddenly overcrowded infield on the Mets roster.
Brett Baty likely will be moved back to third base.
Acuña and Mauricio saw time in the infield last season, but now may not be able to win everyday jobs even with strong camps.
There is less urgency for Mauricio, who can be optioned to the minors, than Acuña, who cannot.
Acuña does have experience in the outfield.
Potentially blocked not just next season but for the next three years could be Jett Williams, the organization’s No. 3 prospect who has projected as a second baseman in part because of Francisco Lindor blocking shortstop and in part because of the competition among Mets center field prospects.
With Acuña, Mauricio and Williams, Stearns is counting on versatility.
“We have a high degree of confidence that all of these guys can play multiple positions and can play them at a high level,” Stearns said. “And so we don’t look at the acquisition as necessarily blocking anyone from continuing their progression.”
The Mets have two outfield spots that are not occupied.
Stearns listed Tyrone Taylor, McNeil, Williams and Carson Benge as potential candidates.
“And then there is the opportunity for external acquisitions, and we’ve got a lot of offseason left,” Stearns said. “I would expect us to continue to be active in a variety of spaces to bring players in here.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
